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Cork City -v- Wexford Youths
- Alan Smith
- Thu, Mar 03 2011
Cork City and Wexford Youths get their 2011 season underway at Turner's Cross on Friday night, with an interesting political link between the sides.
After last week's General Election, Youths founder Mick Wallace and City board member Jonathan O'Brien were both elected to the Dáil. The new posts won't get in the way of their allegiances however, as both TD's promised they will attend what should be an entertaining curtain-raiser.
Cork have strengthened considerably in the build-up to their second year in the First Division, and a promotion challenge looks likely on paper at least. Youths, on the other hand, have lost key striker Gary Sheahan and it appears a mid-table finish will be the best they can hope for.
Opening weekend games can be unpredictable and Youths will travel to Munster on the back of a Leinster Senior Cup win against Drogheda United, while they also defeated Galway United in a friendly at home last month.
Regardless, Cork’s squad looks far more impressive, with new midfielder Vincent Escudé-Candau looking like a great prospect. Up front, Cork were too reliant on Graham Cummins last year and adding Vinny Sullivan should fix that problem, while Davin O’Neill has impressed in pre-season.
Youths are likely to spend most of the 90 minutes pinned back and their only realistic chance will be if they can frustrate the home teams and grab a goal on the counter-attack. City boss Tommy Dunne is aware that the opening game can throw up a surprise, but is expecting a solid start to the campaign at home.
“It is a tricky opening fixture for us. Looking back over the years, there are always surprise results on the opening day of the season, and while people might expect us to win, we will have to work hard if we are to secure the three points.
“We’re hoping that we can start a tad better this year. We’ve got Wexford, which is a home game, and we’ll be looking to get three points from all of our home games this year regardless of the opposition. “We have Mervue away and then Limerick at home. It doesn’t always happen, but you’d like to be picking up at least seven to nine points from those three games, without being disrespectful to anybody.”
Cork will be without towering defender Stephen Mulcahy, while Derek O’Brien is suspended. Youths, meanwhile, have remained tight-lipped about the condition of their side ahead of the game.
Cork City
Injured: Stephen Mulcahy
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Derek O’Brien
Wexford Youths
Injured: n/a
Doubtful: n/a
Suspended: None.
Referee: Stuart Templeman
Paddy Power odds: Cork City 4/9; Draw 11/4; Wexford Youths 11/2
ExtraTime prediction: Cork to win by two; 2-0.
About Alan Smith
Alan Smith works as a sub-editor for the Guardian newspaper in London. Originally from Cork, he freelances for several other newspapers and websites. Follow him on twitter @alansmith90.